On Monday, the thousands of young people participating in this year’s International Orthodox Youth Meeting bade farewell to Iasi, the city of the seven hills, attending the ITO2017 closing ceremony. During the ceremony, the Archdiocese of Sibiu was appointed officially organizer of next year’s Youth Meeting.
Roxana Chebac and Daniel Buzdugan presented the Sept. 4 closing ceremony held on a stage in front of the Iasi Metropolitan Cathedral, reports doxologia.ro.
His Eminence Teofan, Metropolitan of Moldavia and Bukovina, and several other Orthodox bishops from home and abroad attended the event.
In his speech, Met. Teofan thanked God and addressed thanks to the organizers of the event. He briefly recalled the activities related to the main theme of the meeting, Young people in search for freedom.
Referring to freedom, His Eminence said that free is a kind person, one who forgives others, who prays, who is brave and has enthusiasm and faith.
The Metropolitan ended his speech by wishing everyone to nurture freedom with kindness, forgiveness, prayer, courage and true faith. He also asked God to bless everyone and grant them holy joy.
This year’s gathering is the fourth international meeting of Orthodox youth organized by the Romanian Orthodox Church and it gathered over 6000 young people coming from all over the world. Last year, the meeting took place in Bucharest, the capital city of Romania, with the young people participating in the first Divine Liturgy celebrated by Patriarch Daniel at the National Cathedral.
Orthodox Youth will meet again in September 2018 in Sibiu, a beautiful city in Romania awarded with the European Capital of Culture title in 2007.
Photos: Doxologia.ro
